Former Tennessee Vols Linebacker Climbing Up Detroit Lions Depth Chart

Former Tennessee Vols linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin is quickly rising up the depth chart for the Detroit Lions.

Fans of the Tennessee Vols knew the Detroit Lions were getting a bargain when they selected Jalen Reeves-Maybin in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Lions fans are probably realizing what kind of bargain they received after Reeves-Maybin’s performance in Detroit’s first pre-season game.

The former Vol compiled five tackles in his first NFL game. Not bad for a guy considered “under sized” by most draft evaluators.

Thanks to that performance, and a season ending injury to outside linebacker Brandon Copeland, Reeves-Maybin is now listed as one of the backup linebackers on the Lions’ latest depth chart.

Reeves-Maybin is listed as Tahir Whitehead’s backup. Whitehead moved from middle linebacker to weak side linebacker this offseason after Detroit drafted Jarrad Davis out of Florida.

For what it’s worth, it looks like Lions writers are already excited about Reeves-Maybin’s speed.

I’m sure that doesn’t really surprise Vols fans. Reeves-Maybin routinely made those types of plays at Tennessee.

It can’t be said enough how much the Volunteers missed Reeves-Maybin’s presence in 2016 (he played in only four games for UT last season).

Not only was Reeves-Maybin the captain of the defense, but he was also one of the Vols’ most important defensive playmakers. It didn’t matter where the play on the field ended up, it seemed like JRM was always right in the middle of it.

It’s that kind of field awareness that makes me think Reeves-Maybin will eventually be starting for the Lions.

Whitehead is a free agent after the 2017 season, so it’s very possible that Detroit is grooming Reeves-Maybin to be a starter in 2018.